Senate Averts Government Shutdown with Last-Minute Spending Bill
In a dramatic turn of events, the Senate narrowly avoided a government shutdown just hours before the midnight deadline on Friday. A Republican-crafted stopgap spending measure passed with a vote of 54 to 46, thanks in part to the unexpected support of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and a handful of Democrats. This last-minute maneuver ensures that the government will remain funded through September 30, but not without igniting tensions within the Democratic Party.
The pivotal moment came earlier in the day when Schumer, alongside nine other Democrats, broke ranks to provide the necessary votes to advance the spending bill. This decision came after days of intense debate and internal conflict among Democrats, many of whom were eager to take a stand against President Trump’s administration, which they accuse of undermining congressional authority and slashing federal funding.
As the clock ticked down to midnight, the urgency of the situation became clear. Schumer, who had initially opposed the bill, reversed his stance after Republicans rejected a shorter-term alternative. He argued that a government shutdown would only empower Trump and his allies, allowing them to determine which federal workers were “nonessential” and could be furloughed. “As bad as the C.R. is,” Schumer stated, “allowing President Trump to take more power is a far worse option.”
The spending measure, while keeping federal funding largely at levels set during the Biden administration, includes a $6 billion increase for military spending and cuts the District of Columbia’s budget by approximately $1 billion over the next six months. However, it lacks specific congressional instructions for allocating funds, a point of contention for many Democrats who fear it could lead to unchecked executive power.
Democratic Senators like Dick Durbin, Brian Schatz, and Catherine Cortez Masto joined Schumer in supporting the bill, while others, including Jon Ossoff and several centrists, voiced their opposition. They argued that funding the government under these circumstances would effectively endorse Trump’s unilateral actions and further erode congressional control.
The divide among Democrats reflects broader concerns about how to effectively resist Trump’s agenda while navigating the complexities of governance. Some members believe that a shutdown would have been a more principled stand, while others, like Schatz, emphasized the potential harm to federal workers and the need to keep the government running.
Republican leaders, meanwhile, pointed fingers at Democrats for the funding crisis, claiming that their failure to push through annual spending bills last year created the current predicament. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged that while Republicans were not thrilled about passing another continuing resolution, it was the best option available to prevent further chaos.
As the dust settles from this latest legislative battle, the Senate’s decision to avert a shutdown may provide temporary relief, but it also highlights the ongoing struggles within the Democratic Party and the challenges they face in countering Trump’s administration. With the 2024 elections on the horizon, how Democrats navigate these internal conflicts will be crucial as they seek to regain control and assert their influence in Congress.
